Social Justice in an Open World: The Role of the United Nations
a market economy is generally quite low; in most developed and developing countries, levels of inequality are above this threshold. Greater distributional equality provides a favourable "initial condition" for rapid and sustainable growth, and is a necessary condition for reducing poverty. To conclude, while it is true that outside forces or global trends may impose certain constraints or limit choices, the policy choices made by national Governments are ultimately primarily responsible for the increases or decreases in inequality. Discussions relating to the present thematic focus prompted the following questions:
What are the policy options and the margin of manoeuvre available to a Government wishing to pursue both integration in the world economy and the prevention or reduction of inequalities? Under what conditions is a national policy for growth and equity still possible? What type of "integration" and "openness" does such a policy imply? What is the importance of the immediate regional environment either as a constraint or as a support? Taking into account particular national circumstances, can and should the features of a "proper mix" of distributive and redistributive policies conducive to both growth and equity be identified? What is the meaning and content of the notion of "sound" macroeconomic policy within such a context? If this notion needs to be revisited, through which processes and institutions should the debate take place? Should the concept of macro-social policy be developed? As policies targeting poverty and the poor appear to be yielding disappointing results, and as some countries are reducing poverty but are also exacerbating inequalities through rapid economic growth, there would seem to be a case for rethinking comprehensive strategies for sustainable growth and social progress. Again, taking into account national circumstances, what would the common features of such national strategies be? What are the features of an external environment supportive of national strategies and policies aimed at promoting growth and equity? Theme 3: Contributions of the United Nations to the pursuit of equity in an interdependent world For the United Nations, international equality is both a guiding principle and a central objective. According to Article 2 of the Charter, the specified purposes of the Organization and its Members must be pursued in accordance with certain principles, and the first of these emphasizes that the basis of the Organization is "the sovereign equality of all its Members". The United Nations-by virtue of the near universality of its membership, its respect for the "one country, one vote" rule within the General Assembly, and its very existence-represents the supreme expres-